Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2011, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 609-613.

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A new method for observation of choke vessels: the dorsal skinfold chamber on the rat

ZHUANG Yue-hong1, HU Shi-wang2, WU Dong-fang2, DING Mao-chao2, HUANG Mei-xian1, TANG Mao-lin2, XU Da-chuan1   

  1. 1.Institute of Clinical Anatomy, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515,China;  2. Department of Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325035, China
  • Received:2011-09-20 Online:2011-11-25 Published:2011-12-12

Abstract:

Objective To adopt of the dorsal skinfold chamber on the rat for observation of choke vessels between the angiosomes of the rat's skin. Methods  Firstly, a dorsal skinfold chamber that could ride on the back of the rat after its install was designed;Then, a three-territory flap based on the cutaneous perforator of the ilicolumbar artery was harvested, which was sutured back in situ immediately; Finally, the dorsal skinfold chamber was installed for real-time intravital microscopic monitoring at an interval of 12h continuously for seven days. Results 3 rats from 10 developed serious infection. Through the observatory hole of the dorsal skinfold chamber, both the choke arteries and veins can be clearly and integrally demonstrated. Mild expansion at the diameter of the communicating venules appeared 60 hours after flap elevation, and continued as time went on, reaching its maximal 5 days after flap elevation. The increase in the diameter of the venous trunks and choke arteries also happened, but not in the same massive scale as the communicating venules. Conclusions  Compared with conventional methods for investigation of choke vessels reported in literature such as X-ray radiographic angiography, computed tomographic angiography, the greatest advantage of the dorsal skinfold chamber is that it allows real-time and in vivo monitoring of choke vessels in rodent models. The shortcoming is that frequent anesthesia would inevitably lead to some influence at the physiological state of the rats.

Key words: Perforasome; Perforator flap; Choke vessels; Skinfold chamber

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